Introductory matter
note
The Names of the Persons.
The Duke [Theseus].
Egeus, Father to Hermia.
Lysander, in Love with Hermia.
Demetrius, in Love with Hermia, and Betroth'd to Helena.
Hermia, in Love with Lysander.
Helena, in Love with Demetrius.
The Fairies.
Oberon, King of the Fairies.
Titania, the Queen.
Robin-Good-Fellow [Puck].
Fairies [Fairy], [Fairies], [Fairy 1], [Fairy 2], [Fairy 3], [Fairy 4].
The Comedians.
Bottom the Weaver
Quince the Carpenter
Snug the Joyner
Flute the Bellows-mender
Snout the Tinker
Starveling the Taylor.
[Prologue], [Wall], [Pyramus], [Thisby], [Lion], [Moonshine]
Singers and Dancers in the Second Act.
Fairy-Spirits, Night, Mistery, Secresie [Secrecy],
Sleep, and their Attendants, Singers, and Dancers.
[Chorus]
Singers in the Third Act.
Nymphs, Coridon, and Mopsa; with a Chorus of Fawns, and Naids, with Woodmen, and Hay-makers Dancers.
[Dryades], [Nymph],
Singers and Dancers in the Fourth Act.
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, and their Attendants.
Phœbus [Phoebus]: A Dance of the four Seasons.
[Attendant], [Attendant 2], [Attendant 3]
Singers and Dancers in the Fifth Act.
Juno, Chinese Men and Women [Chinese Man], [Chinese Woman].
A Chorus of Chineses [Chinese Chorus].
A Dance of 6 Monkeys.
An Entry of a Chinese Man and Woman.
A Grand Dance of 24 Chineses.
[Woman 1], [Woman 2], [Hymen]
-- --
THE PREFACE.
'Tis known to all who have been any considerable
time in Italy, or France, how Opera's are esteem'd
among 'em. That France borrow'd what she has
from Italy, is evident from the Andromede and
Toison D'or, of Monsieur Corneille, which are
the first in the kind they ever had, on their publick Theaters; they
being not perfect Opera's, but Tragedies, with Singing, Dancing,
and Machines interwoven with 'em, after the manner of an Opera.
They gave 'em a tast first, to try their Palats, that they might
the better Judge whether in time they would be able to digest an
entire Opera. And Cardinal Richelieu (that great Encourager of
Arts and Learning) introduced 'em first at his own Expence, as I
have been informed amongst 'em.
What encouragement Seignior Baptist Luly had from the present
King of France, is well known; they being first set out at his
own Expence; and all the Ornaments given by the King, for the
Entertainment of the People. In Italy, especially at Venice, where
Opera's have the greatest Reputation, and where they have 'em every
Carnival, the Noble Venetians set 'em out at their own cost.
And what a confluence of People the fame of 'em draw from all
parts of Italy to the great profit of the City, is well known to every
one who has spent a Carnival there. And many of the English
Gentry are sensible what advantage Paris receives, by the great
number of Strangers which frequent the Opera's three days in a
Week, throughout the Year. If therefore an Opera were established
here, by the Favour of the Nobility and Gentry of England; I
may modestly conclude it would be some advantage to London, considering
what a Sum we must Yearly lay out among Tradesmen for
the fitting out so great a work.
That Sir William Davenant's Siege of Rhodes was the first
Opera we ever had in England, no Man can deny; and is indeed
a perfect Opera: there being this difference only between an Opera
and a Tragedy; that the one is a Story sung with proper Action, the
other spoken. And he must be a very ignorant Player, who knows
not there is a Musical Cadence in speaking; and that a Man
-- --
may as well speak out of Tune, as sing out of Tune. And though
few are so nice to examine this, yet all are pleas'd when they hear
it justly perform'd. 'Tis true, the Siege of Rhodes wanted the Ornament
of Machines, which they value themselves so much upon in
Italy. And the Dancing which they have in such perfection in France.
That he design'd this, if his first attempt met with the Encouragement
it deserv'd, will appear from these Lines in his Prologue.
But many Travellers here, as Judges, come
From Paris, Florence, Venice, and from Rome.
Who will describe, when any Scene we draw,
By each of ours, all that they ever saw.
Those praising for extensive breadth and height,
And inward distance to deceive the sight.—
And a little after—
Ah Mony, Mony! if the Wits would dress
With Ornaments the present face of Peace:
And to our Poet half that Treasure spare,
Which Faction gets from Fools to nourish War.
Then his contracted Scenes should wider be,
And move by greater Engines; till you see
(While you securely sit) fierce Armies meet,
And raging Seas disperse a fighting Fleet.
That a few private Persons should venture on so expensive a
Work as an Opera, when none but Princes, or States exhibit 'em
abroad, I hope is no Dishonour to our Nation: And I dare affirm,
if we had half the Encouragement in England, that they have in
other Countries, you might in a short time have as good Dancers in
England as they have in France, though I despair of ever having
as good Voices among us, as they haue in Italy. These are the two
great things which Travellers say we are most deficient in. If this
happens to please, we cannot reasonably propose to our selves any
great advantage, considering the mighty Charge in setting it out,
and the extraordinary expence that attends it every day 'tis represented.
If it deserves their Favour? if they are satisfied we venture
boldly, doing all we can to please 'em? We hope the English are
too generous not to encourage so great an undertaking.
-- 1 --
THE Fairy-Queen.
ACT I.
SCENE, A Palace.
Enter Duke and Attendants at one door. Egeus, Hermia, Lysander, and Demetrius at the other.
Du.
Now, good Egeus, what's the News with thee?
Eg.
Full of Vexation come I, and Complaint,
Against my Child, my Daughter Hermia.
Stand forth Demetrius, my Gracious Lord,
This Man has my Consent to Marry her.
Stand forth, Lysander; this, most Noble Duke,
This, has Bewitch'd the Bosom of my Child.
Thou, thou Lysander, thou hast given her Spells,
In Bracelets of thy Hair, Rings, Lockets, Verses.
(Arts that prevail on unexperienc'd Youth)
With cunning thou hast stoln my Daughter's Heart.
Turn'd her Obedience (which is due to me)
To Stubborness: If therefore, (Royal Sir)
My Daughter does not here before your Grace,
Consent to Marry with Demetrius,
Let the stern Law punish her Disobedience,
And Cage her in a Nunnery.
Du
Be advis'd, Fair Hermia,
To you your Father should be as a God,
The Maker of those Beauties; yes, and one
To whom you are but as a Form in Wax,
By him Imprinted, and within his Pow'r,
-- 2 --
To leave the Figure, or to race it out.
Her.
O would my Father look'd but with my Eyes.
Du.
No, no; your Eyes must with his Judgment look.
Her.
Let me intreat you, Sir, to Pardon me
I know not by what Power I am made bold,
Nor how it may concern my Modesty,
In such a Presence to unfold my thoughts.
But I beseech your Grace, that I may know
The worst that may befal me in this case,
If I refuse to Wed Demetrius.
Du.
You must Abjure
For ever the Society of Men.
Therefore, Fair Hermia, question your Desires,
Know of your Youth, examine well your Blood,
Whether (if you refuse your Father's Choice)
You can indure the Habit of a Nun,
To be immur'd for ever in a Cloister.
Her.
Is there no Mean? No other Choice, my Lord?
Du.
None, Hermia, none.
Therefore prepare to be Obedient,
Or like a Rose to wither on the Tree.
Consider well; take till to morrow Morning,
And give me then your Resolution.
De.
Relent, sweet Hermia; and Lysander yield
Your doubtful Title, to my certain right.
Ly.
You have her Father's Love, Demetrius,
Let me have Hermia's; Marry, marry him.
Eg.
Scornful Lysander, true he has my Love.
And what is mine my Love shall render him;
And she is mine, and all my right in her
I give, and settle on Demetrius.
Ly.
I am, my Lord, as Nobly Born, as he;
My Fortune's every way as great as his.
And (without boast) my Love is more than his.
But what is more than all these boasts can be,
I am Belov'd of Beautious Hermia.
Why should this Faithless Man Invade my Right?
He who solicited Old Nedar's Daughter,
And won her Love; The Beautious Hellena,
Tho' she's neglected; she poor Lady dotes
-- 3 --
Upon this spotted and inconstant Man.
Du.
'Tis true, Lysander, I have heard as much.
Hermia, resolve to be obedient.
Or, as the Law ordains it, you must take
An everlasting Farewel of the World.
To Morrow in the Morning give your answer: so farewell.
[Ex. all but Her. and Ly.
Ly.
O my true Hermia! I have never found
By Observation, nor by History,
That Lovers run a smooth, and even course:
Either they are unequal in their Birth—
Her.
O cross too high to be impos'd on Love!
Ly.
Or if there be a Simpathy in choice,
War, Sickness, or pale Death lay Siege to it,
Making it momentary as a sound,
Swift as the Lightning in the blackest night;
That at one Instant shews both Heav'n and Earth.
Yet e'er a man can say, behold the Flame,
The jaws of darkness have devour'd it up;
So quick even brightest things run to Confusion.
Her.
If then true Lovers have been ever cross'd,
It stands as a Decree in Destiny.
Then let us teach each other Patience,
Because it is a customary thing.
Ly.
'Tis well advis'd, my Hermia,
Pray hear me. I have an Aunt, a Widow,
She has no Child, and is extreamly rich;
She chose me, loves me, bred me as her Son,
Has setled all her Fortune upon me.
To her we'll fly; and there, (my sweetest Hermia)
There (if you give consent) I'll marry you.
And thither this Inhuman, Cruel Law
Cannot pursue us. If thou lov'st me then,
Steal from thy Father's House this very night,
And in the Wood, a mile without the Town,
Near the great spreading Oak, I'll stay for thee,
And at some little distance from that place
Have all things ready to convey thee thence.
Her.
Oh my Lysander!
I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest Bow,
-- 4 --
By his best Arrow with the Golden Head,
By all the Oaths which ever Men have broke,
(In number more than ever Women spoke)
I will, where thou appoint'st, meet my Lysander.
Ly.
Enough, my Love: look here comes Hellena.
Enter Hellena.
Her.
Welcome, fair Hellena.
Hel.
You mock me, Hermia, when you call me fair;
'Tis you are fair, 'tis you Demetrius loves.
Sickness is catching, oh were Beauty so,
I'd catch your Graces, Hermia, e'er I go;
My Ear should catch your Voice, my Eye your Eye,
My Tongue should catch your Tongue's sweet Harmony.
O teach me how you look, and with what art
You charm and govern my Demetrius's Heart?
Her.
I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.
Hel.
Oh that your frowns could teach my smiles such Skill!
Her.
I give him Curses, when he gives me Love.
Hel.
Oh that my Prayers could such Affection move!
Her.
His Folly, Hellena, is none of mine.
Hel.
No, 'tis your Beauty; wou'd that Fault were mine.
Her.
Take comfort, he no more shall see my Face.
Ly.
To you, fair Hellena, we'll disclose our minds.
This very night, when Luna does behold
Her Silver Visage in the Watry Glass,
Decking with liquid Pearl the bladed-Grass,
(A time propitious to unhappy Lovers)
We from this cursed Town will steal away.
Her.
And in the Wood, where often you and I
Upon faint Primrose Beds have laid us down,
Emptying our Bosoms of our secret thoughts.
There my Lysander and my self shall meet
To seek new Friends, new Habitations.
Ly.
Madam, farewell. O may the Pow'rs above
Make Hellen happy in Demetrius's Love.
[Exeunt Lysander and Hermia.
Hel.
Oh why should she be more belov'd than I?
My Beauty is as much extol'd as hers:
-- 5 --
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not see that which all others do.
Love looks not with the Eyes, but with the Mind,
Therefore the God of Love is painted blind.
Love never had of Judgment any Taste;
Wings, and no Eyes, must figure thoughtless Haste.
For the same reason Love is call'd a Child,
Because so often in his choice beguil'd.
As Boys ev'n at their Sports themselves forswear;
So the Boy Love is perjur'd every where.
Before Demetrius saw fair Hermia's Eyes,
He swore his Heart was made my Beauty's Prize.
But when from Hermia new heat he felt,
His frozen Oaths did in an Instant melt.
I'll to Demetrius, tell him of their flight,
The place they meet at by the Moon's pale light:
Then to the Wood he will pursue the Maid;
And if he thanks me, I am overpaid.
[Exit.
Enter Quince the Carpenter, Snug the Joyner, Bottom the Weaver, Flute the Bellows-mender, Snout the Tinker, and Starveling the Taylor.
Qu.
Is all our Company here?
Bo.
You had best call 'em generally, Man by Man, according
to the Scrip.
Qu.
Here is the Scrowl of every Man's Name, who is thought
fit through all the Town to play in our Enterlude before the
Duke, at the Marriage of Lysander and Hermia, or Demetrius
and Hermia, no matter which.
Bo.
First, Peter Quince, say what the Play treats on; then
read the Names of the Actors, and so go on to appoint the Parts.
Qu.
Marry, our Play is the most lamentable Comedy, and
most cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe.
Bo.
A very good piece of work, and a merry. Now, good
Peter Quince, call forth the Actors. Masters spread your selves.
Qu.
Answer as I call you. Nick Bottom the Weaver.
Bo.
Ready. Name what part I am for, and proceed.
Qu.
You Nick Bottom, are set down for Pyramus.
Bo.
What is Pyramus? a Lover, or a Tyrant?
Lu.
A Lover that kills himself most Gallantly for Love.
-- 6 --
Bo.
That will ask some tears in the true performance of it. If
I do it, let the Ladies look to their Eyes; I will move stones.
I will condole in some measure. [To the rest.] yet my chief humour
is for a Tyrant, I could play Ercles rarely, or a part to
make all split. The raging Rocks, and shivering Shocks, shall
break the Locks of Prison-Gates; and Phœbus Carr shall shine
from far, and make and mar the foolish Fates. This was Lofty.
Now name the rest of the Players, This is Ercle's vain, a Tyrant's
vain, a Lover's is more condoling.
Qu.
Francis Flute the Bellows-mender.
Fl.
Here, Peter Quince.
Qu.
You must take Thisbe on you.
Fl.
What is Thisbe? A wandring Knight?
Qu.
It is the Lady that Pyramus must love.
Fl.
Nay faith, let not me play a Woman, I have a beard come.
Qu.
That's all one, you shall play it in a Mask, and you
may speak as small as you will.
Bo.
And I may hide my face, let me play Thisbe too; I'll
speak in a monstrous little voice, Thisbe, Thisbe; ah! Pyramus,
my Lover dear, and Thisbe dear, and Lady dear.
Qu.
No, no, you must play Pyramus, and I'll play Thisbe,
and Flute, Thisbe's Father.
Bo.
Well, proceed.
Qu.
Robin Starveling the Taylor.
St.
Here, Peter Quince.
Qu.
Robin Starveling, you must play Thisbe's Mother. Tom
Snout the Tinker.
Sn.
Here, Peter Quince.
Qu.
You, Pyramus's Father: Snug the Joyner, you the Lion's
part, and I hope there is a Play fitted.
Snug.
Have you the Lion's part written? Pray if it be, give
it me, for I am slow of Study.
Qu.
You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring.
Bo.
Let me play the Lion too, I will roar that it will do
any Man's heart good to hear me; I will roar, that I will make
the Duke say, let him roar again, let him roar again.
Qu.
If you should do it too terribly, you would fright the
Ladies, and they would shriek, and that were enough to
hang us all.
-- 7 --
All.
I, I, that would hang every Mothers Son of us.
Bo.
I grant you friends, if I should fright the Ladies out of
their wits, they might have no more discretion but to hang us,
but I will aggravate my voice so, that I will roar you as
gently as any sucking Dove; I will roar you as 'twere any
Nightingale.
Qu.
You can play no part but Pyramus; for Pyramus is a
sweet fac'd Youth, as proper a Man as one shall see in a Summers
Day; a most lovely Gentleman-like man, therefore you
must needs play Pyramus.
Bo.
I will undertake it then. But hark you, Peter Quince.
Qu.
What say'st thou, Bully Bottom?
Bo.
There are things in this Comedy of Pyramus and
Thisbe, will never please; first, Pyramus must draw a Sword to
kill himself, which the Ladies cannot abide. How answer you
that?
Snug.
Berlaken, a parlous fear.
Sta.
I believe we must leave killing out, when all's done.
Bo.
Not a whit, I have a device to make all well; write me,
a Prologue, and let the Prologue say we will do no harm with
our Swords, and that Pyramus is not kill'd indeed; and for the
better assurance, tell 'em that I Pyramus am not Pyramus, but
Nick Bottom the Weaver, and that will put 'em out of all
fear.
Qu.
Well, we will have such a Prologue.
Sno.
Will not the Ladies be afraid of the Lion?
Sta.
I promise you I fear it.
Bo.
Masters, you ought to consider with your selves. To
bring in (God bless us) a Lion among Ladies, is a most dreadful
thing! for there is not a more fearful Wild-fowl than the
Lion living, and we ought to look to it.
Snug.
Therefore we must have another Prologue to tell
'em he is not a Lion.
Bo.
Nay, you must name his name, and half his face must
be seen thro' the Lion's neck, and he himself must speak thro'
it, saying thus, or to the same defect; Ladies, or fair Ladies, I
would wish you, or I would request you, or I would intreat
you, nor to fear, nor to tremble, my life for yours: if you
think I come hither as a Lion, it were pity of my life; no, I
am no such thing, I am a Man as other Men are. And there
-- 8 --
in deed let him Name his Name, and tell 'em plainly he is
Snug the Joyner.
Qu
Well, it shall be so. But there are two hard things in
our Comedy, to bring the Moon-shine into a Chamber, for you
know Pyramus and Thisbe met by Moon-light.
Snug.
Does the Moon shine that Night we play our Play?
Bo.
A Callender, a Callender. Look in the Almanack; find
out Moon-shine, find out Moon-shine.
Fl.
Yes, it does Shine that Night.
Bo.
Why then you may leave a Casement of the great Hall
Window (where we play our Play) open, and the Moon may
shine in at the Casement.
Qu.
Or else, one may come in with a Bush of Thorns, and
a Lanthorn, and say he comes to disfigure, or to present the
Person of Moon-shine. Then there is another thing, we must
have a Wall in the great Room; for Pyramus and Thisbe, (as
says the Story) did talk thro' the chink of a Wall.
Sta.
You can never bring in a Wall. What say you Bottom?
Bo.
Some Man or other must present Wall, and let him have
some Plaster, and some Lome, and some rough-cast about him,
to signifie Wall; and let him hold his Fingers thus, and thro'
that Cranny shall Pyramus and Thisbe whisper.
Qu.
If that may be, then all's well; here my Masters, here
are your Parts; and I am to intreat you, request you, and desire
you, to Con 'em against Night, and meet in the Palace-Wood,
a Mile without the Town, by Moon-light; there we
will Rehearse; for if we meet in the City, we shall be dogg'd
with Company, and our Devices known; in the mean time, I
will get your Properties ready, and all your Habits, that every
Man may Dress, to Act it in Form; and pray fail me not.
Bo.
We will meet, and there we may Rehearse more obscenely,
and couragiously. Take pains, and be perfect. Adieu.
Qu.
At the Duke's Oak we meet.
All.
Enough, enough.
[Exeunt.
-- 9 --
ACT. II.
SCENE a Wood, by Moon-light.
Enter a Fairy at one door, Robin Goodfellow at the other.
Ro.
Tell me Fairy, where's our Queen?
And where have you been wandering?
Fa.
Over Hill, over Dale, thro' Bush, thro' Bryer,
Over Park, over Pale, thro' Flood, thro' Fire,
I wander swifter than the Moon's bright Sphere.
I serve the Mighty Fairy-Queen,
Sprinkle her Circles on the Green.
The Cowslips tall, her Pentioners be;
Spots in their Gold Coats you see.
Those be Rubies, Fairy-Favours,
In those freckles live their savours;
I must gather Dew-drops here,
And hang a Pearl in every Cowslips Ear.
Farewell Lob-Spirit, I'll be gone,
The Queen and all her Elves come here anon.
Ro.
The King will keep his Revels here to Night,
Take heed the Queen comes not within his Sight.
For Oberon is passing fell and wrath,
Because that she for her Attendant hath
A Lovely Boy, stoln from an Indian King,
She never had so fair a Changling.
The Jealous Oberon would have the Child,
But she perforce with-holds the Lovely Boy.
And now they never meet in Grove, or Green,
By Fountain, or by Star-light, are they seen:
But as they quarrel, all their Elves for fear,
Creep into Acorn-Cups, and hide 'em there.
Fa.
Either I mistake your shape, and making quite,
Or else you are that shrewd, and Knavish Spright,
Call'd Robin Good-Fellow; are you not he
Fright Village-Maids and pinch each Sluttish she?
-- 10 --
Skim Milk, and sometimes labour in the Quern,
And bootless make the breathless Huswife Chern?
And sometimes make the Drink to bear no Barm?
Mislead Night-wanderers, laughing at their harm?
Those that Hobgoblin call you, and kind Puck,
You sweep their Houses, send 'em all good luck;
Are you not he?
Rob.
Yes, yes, thou speak'st aright,
I am that Merry Wanderer of the Night.
I jest to Oberon, and make him smile.
Sometimes I hide me in a Gossips Bowl,
Just in the likeness of a Roasted Crab;
And when she drinks, against her Lips I bob;
And on her wither'd Dew-lap pour the Ale,
The wisest Wife, telling the saddest Tale.
She for a Three-leg'd Stool mistaketh me,
Then slip I from her Bum, down toples she.
Look yonder, Fairy, here comes Oberon!
Fa.
Titania meets him, would we two were gone.
Enter Oberon, and Train at one Door. Titania, and her Train at the other.
Ob.
Now proud Titania I shall find your Haunts.
Tit.
What, Jealous Oberon! Faries away,
I have forsworn his Bed, and Company.
Ob.
Tarry, rash Woman, am not I thy Lord?
Tit.
And am not I your Lady too? Remember
When you did steal away from Fairy-Land,
And in the shape of Corin sat all day
Playing on Oaten-Pipes, and Singing Love
To Amorous Philida. Why are you here
Come from the farthest Verge of India?
But that some Lusty Pair, some Wedding's near,
And you must Sport, and Revel with the Bride,
And give their Bed Joy and Prosperity.
Ob.
How canst thou thus for shame, Titania,
Reflect on my past scapes? when well thou know'st,
I have pursu'd you to this very place,
Where you retir'd, to Wanton with a Boy
-- 11 --
You lately stole from a Fair Indian.
Tit.
These are the Forgeries of Jealousie.
And never since the middle of the Summer,
Met we on Hill, or Dale, Forrest, or Mead,
By Streaming Fountain, or by Rushy Brook,
Or on the beached Margent of the Sea,
To Dance in Circles to the Whistling Wind;
But with thy brawls thou hast disturb'd our Sport.
Ob.
Do you amend it then, it lies in you;
Why should Titania cross her Oberon?
I only beg a little Changling Boy,
Give me him, we are Friends.
Tit.
Let this suffice,
All Fairy-Land buys not the Child of me:
His Mother was a Votress of my Order,
And for her sake I breed the pretty Boy,
And for her sake, I will not part with him.
Ob.
How long within this Wood mean you to stay?
Tit.
'Till you have Grac'd your Lover's Nuptial Day.
If you will patiently Dance in our Round,
And see our Midnight Revels, go with us;
If not, avoid my Haunts, as I will yours.
Ob.
Give me the Boy, and I will go with you.
Tit.
Not for the Wealth of India, come away.
We chide down-right, if I should longer stay.
[Exit Tit. and Train.
Ob.
Well, go thy ways, thou shalt not from this Grove,
'Till I Torment thee for this Injury.
My gentle Puck come hither, thou remembrest
Since when I sat upon a Promontory,
And heard a Mearmaid, on a Dolphin's back,
Sing with such Sweet, with such Harmonious breath,
That the Rude Sea grew Civil at her Song,
And Twinkling Stars shot madly from their Sphears,
To hear the Sea-Maid's Musick.
Rob.
I well remember it
Ob.
That very time I say (thou couldst not see it)
Flying between the cold Moon, and the Earth,
I saw young Cupid in the Mid-way hanging,
At a Fair Vestal Virgin taking aim;
-- 12 --
Let flye his Love-Shaft smartly from his Bow,
As it would pierce a hundred thousand Hearts:
But when it came beneath the watry Moon,
The Chast Beams of Diana quench'd its heat,
And the Imperial Virgin passed on,
In Maiden Meditation, free from harm.
Rob.
What's this to me?
Ob
Observe me, Puck.
I look'd, and mark'd the place where the Bolt fell;
It fell upon a little western Flower,
Before Milk white, now Purple with Love's wound,
And Maidens call it, Love in Idleness:
Fetch me that Flower, thou know'st I shew'd it thee.
The juice of it on Sleeping Eye-lids laid,
Will make a Man or Woman madly Dote
Upon the next Live Creature that it sees.
Fetch me this Herb, go, and be here again,
E'er the Leviathan can swim a League.
Rob.
I'll compass the whole Earth in forty minutes.
[Exit.
Ob.
When I have this Juice,
I'll find Titania where she lies asleep,
And drop some of the Liquor in her Eyes.
The next Live Thing she waking looks upon,
(Be it on Lion, Bear, or Wolf, or Bull,
The medling Monkey, or the busie Ape)
She shall (with all the eagerness of Love)
Pursue; and e're I take the Charm away,
(As I can take it with another Herb)
I'll make her render up her Page to me.
But who comes here? I am invisible;
I'll stay and over-hear their Conference.
Enter Demetrius, and Helena following him.
Dem.
Why do you follow him who Loves you not?
Where is Lysander? and Fair Hermia?
You told me they were stoln into this Wood.
I seek, but cannot find her. Hence, be gone.
Hel.
You draw me, you hard-hearted Adamant;
And yet I am not Iron, yet you draw me.
-- 13 --
De.
Do I intice you? do I speak you fair?
I rather tell you an ill-manner'd Truth,
Tell you I do not, nor I cannot love you.
Hel.
And even for that I love Demetrius more.
Ah! what am I reduc'd to? like a Spannel,
The more you beat, the more I fawn on you.
Use me most barbarously, strike me, spurn me,
Neglect me, scorn me; only give me leave,
Unworthy as I am, to follow you.
De.
You throw a scandal on your Modesty,
To leave the City, and commit your self
Into the hands of one who loves you not:
To trust the opportunity of Night,
And the ill Counsel of a Desart place,
With the rich purchase of your Virgin Treasure.
Hel.
Your Virtue is my Guard, Demetrius:
It is not night when I behold that Face,
Nor can this Wood want Worlds of Company,
For you, my Love, are all the World to me,
Then how can I be said to be alone,
When all the World is here to guard my Virtue.
De.
I'll run from thee, and hide me in the Brakes,
And leave thee to the Mercy of Wild Beasts.
Hel.
The wildest Beast has not a Heart like you:
Run when you will, the Story shall be chang'd;
Apollo flies, Daphne pursues the God;
The Dove chases the Vulture; the mild Hind
Makes haste to catch the Tyger; prepostrous Chace,
When Cowardise pursues, and Valour flies.
De.
Plague me no more, return e'er 'tis too late.
Follow me not, for fear my Rage should tempt me
To some unmanly Act, and mischief thee.
[Ex. De.
Hel.
Ay, in the Temple, in the Town, and Field,
You do me mischief every where, Demetrius:
Such Wrongs will be a scandal to your Sex.
I'll follow if he rids me of my Woe,
I'll kiss the hand that gives the fatal blow.
[Ex. Hel.
Ob.
Poor Nymph, farewell. Before he leaves this Grove
Thou shalt fly him, and he shall seek thy Love.
-- 14 --
Enter Robin-Good-Fellow.
Welcome my Puck; hast thou the Flow'r?
Rob.
'Tis here.
Ob.
Give it me Puck.
I know there is a bank where wild Time blows,
Where Ox-lips, and the nodding Violet grows,
All over Canopied with Woodbine sweet,
Where Eglantine, and where Musk-Roses meet.
There my Titania Sleeps, lull'd in Delights,
And tyr'd in Dancing with her Fairy Sprights.
'Tis there the Snake casts her Enammell'd skin,
Too large a Robe to cloathe a Fairy in.
There with this wondrous Juice I'le streak her Eyes.
Take some of it; you'l find within this Grove,
A most Unhappy Nymph, who is in Love
With a disdainful Youth; anoint his Eyes;
But do it, that the next thing he espies
May be that Lady; thou shalt know the Man,
By the Embroider'd Garment he has on.
Do it, and meet me at the Crystal Lake.
Rob.
I will; and bring the Nymph when he shall wake.
Ob.
What different Passions in her Soul will move?
To see his former Hatred, turn'd to Love.
[Exeunt.
Enter Titania, and her Train.
Tit.
Take Hands, and trip it in a round,
While I Consecrate the ground.
All shall change at my Command,
All shall turn to Fairy-Land.
The Scene changes to a Prospect of Grotto's, Arbors, and delightful
Walks: The Arbors are Adorn'd with all variety of
Flowers, the Grotto's supported by Terms, these lead to two Arbors
on either side of the Scene, of a great length, whose prospect
runs toward the two Angles of the House. Between these two
Arbors is the great Grotto, which is continued by several Arches,
to the farther end of the House.
-- 15 --
Now Fairies search, search every where,
Let no Unclean thing be near.
Nothing Venomous, or Foul,
No Raven, Bat, or hooting Owle.
No Toad, nor Elf, nor Blind-worm's Sting.
No Poisonous Herb in this place Spring.
Have you search'd? is no ill near?
All.
Nothing, nothing; all is clear.
Tit.
Let your Revels now begin,
Some shall Dance, and some shall Sing.
All Delights this place surround,
Every sweet Harmonious Sound,
That e're Charm'd a skilful Ear,
Meet, and Entertain us here.
Let Eccho's plac'd in every Grot,
Catch, and repeat each Dying Note.
A PRELUDE.
Then the First SONG.
Come all ye Songsters of the Sky,
Wake, and Assemble in this Wood;
But no ill-boding Bird be nigh,
None but the Harmless and the Good.
May the God of Wit inspire,
The Sacred Nine to bear a part;
And the Blessed Heavenly Quire,
Shew the utmost of their Art.
While Eccho shall in sounds remote,
Repeat each Note,
Each Note, each Note.
Chorus.
May the God, &c.
-- 16 --
Now joyn your Warbling Voices all,
Sing while we trip it on the Green;
But no ill Vapours rise or fall,
Nothing offend our Fairy Queen.
Chorus.
Sing while we trip, &c.
At the end of the first Stanza, a Composition of Instrumental Musick, in imitation of an Eccho. Then a Fairy Dance.
Tit.
Come Elves, another Dance, and Fairy Song;
Then hence, and leave me for a while alone.
Some to kill Kankers in the Musk-Rose-Buds;
Some War with Rere-mice for their Leathern Wings,
To make my small Elves Coats. And some keep back
The clamarous Owl, that hoots, and wonders at us.
Each knows her Office. Sing me now to Sleep;
And let the Sentinels their Watches keep.
[She lyes down.
2. SONG.
Enter Night, Mystery, Secresie, Sleep; and their Attendants.
Night Sings.
Ni.
See, even Night her self is here.
To favour your Design;
And all her Peaceful Train is near,
That Men to Sleep incline.
Let Noise and Care,
Doubt and Despair,
-- 17 --
Envy and Spight,
(The Fiends delight)
Be ever Banish'd hence.
Let soft Repose,
Her Eye-lids close;
And murmuring Streams,
Bring pleasing Dreams;
Let nothing stay to give offence.
See, even Night, &c.
Mys.
I am come to lock all fast,
Love without me cannot last.
Love, like Counsels of the Wise,
Must be hid from Vulgar Eyes.
'Tis holy, and we must conceal it,
They profane it, who reveal it.
I am come, &c.
Se.
One charming Night
Gives more delight,
Than a hundred lucky Days.
Night and I improve the tast,
Make the pleasure longer last,
A thousand thousand several ways.
Make the pleasure, &c.
Sl.
Hush, no more, be silent all,
Sweet Repose has clos'd her Eyes.
Soft as feather'd Snow does fall!
-- 18 --
Softly, softly, steal from hence.
No noise disturb her sleeping sence.
Rest till the Rosie Morn's uprise.
Chorus.
Hush, no more, &c.
A Dance of the Followers of Night.
Enter Oberon.
Ob.
What thou seest when thou dost wake,
For thy Lover thou must take,
Sigh, and Languish, for his sake.
Be it Ounce, or Wolf, or Bear,
Pard, or Boar with bristel'd Hair,
In thy Eye what first appear,
Make that Beastly thing thy Dear,
Wake, when some vile Creature's near.
[Ex. Ob.
Enter Lysander, and Hermia.
Ly.
You faint, my Sweet, with wandring in the Wood,
I fear, my Hermia, we mistook our way,
Let us lye down, and rest, if you think good,
And tarry for the comfort of the Day.
Her.
Let it be so, Lysander,
Go, lay thee down; and so good-night, dear Friend,
Our Loves ne're alter, till our Lives shall end.
Ly.
Amen to that sweet Pray'r, my Charming Love.
May my Life end, when I inconstant prove.
[They lye down at a distance.
Enter Robin-Good-Fellow.
Rob.
Through the Forrest I have gone,
But a Stranger find I none,
With Embroider'd Garment on;
-- 19 --
On whose Eyes I might approve,
This Flowr's force in Moving Love.
Night, and silence! who is here?
He does such a Garment wear.
This is he, my Master said,
Scorn'd and despis'd the lovely Maid.
Here's the Virgin sleeping sound,
On the Dank, and dewy Ground.
Churl, upon thy Eyes I throw,
All the pow'r this Charm does owe.
At the first Cock wake, and spy,
She who Loves thee very nigh.
Farewel Lovers, I am gone;
I must now to Oberon,
[Exit.
-- 20 --
ACT III.
Enter Helena.
Hel.
I am out of breath with following him so fast.
O happy Hermia, wheresoe'er she is!
How her attractive Eyes still draw him on!
How came her Eyes so bright? not with salt tears;
If so, my eyes are oftner wash'd than hers.
Ha! who lies here? Lysander on the Ground!
I hope he is not dead! Lysander, speak.
[Ly. wakes.
Ly.
Ha, Helen! fairest of all Womankind!
More lovely than the Grecian Beauty was,
Who drew so many Kings to wed her Cause.
Ah, false Demetrius! when e'er we meet,
This Sword shall punish thy Ingratitude.
Hel.
O say not so, Lysander! though he loves
Your Mistress, kill him not; pray be content,
Be satisfy'd, your Hermia loves you still.
Ly.
Content with Hermia! no, I now repent
Each tedious minute I have spent with her.
'Tis Helena, not Hermia, I love:
Who wou'd not change a Raven for a Dove?
No growing things are ripe before their Season;
Time and Experience only ripens Reason.
When I saw Hermia first, I was unripe,
Raw, green, and unacquainted with the World;
But time and you have taught me better Skill,
For now my Reason over-rules my Will.
I find new Charms when on your Eyes I look,
And read Love's Stories in Love's fairest Book.
Hel.
What spightful Planet reign'd when I was born?
What have I done deserves this Mockery?
But fare you well; I thought you better natur'd.
Must I, because I am by one refus'd,
Be by the rest of all Mankind abus'd!
[Exit.
Ly.
She sees not Hermia. Sleep, sleep for ever;
Never come nearer to Lysander more.
For as a Surfeit of the sweetest things,
-- 21 --
Creates a greater loathing in the Stomach.
Thou art my Surfeit, and I hate thee most:
O, may I never, never see thee more;
Helen the Goddess I must now adore.
[Ex. Ly.
Her.
Help me, Lysander, quickly! help me here,
[Her. wakes.
To pluck this crawling Serpent from my Breast:
Oh all ye Powers! what a Dream had I?
Methought a Serpent eat my Heart away,
And yet sat smiling at his cruel Prey:
Lysander; what, remov'd? where are you? speak.
No sound! no word! O I shall die with fear!
Who are these coming hither? Let me fly!
My Fears will vanish, if Lysander's nigh.
[Ex. Her.
Enter Bottom, Quince, Snug, Flute, Snout, and Starveling.
Bot.
Are we all met?
Qu.
All, all, and drest in the same Habits we intend to act
in before the Duke; and here's a marvellous convenient place
for our Rehearsal; this Plat shall be our Stage; behind these
Trees our retiring Room: and we will do it in action, as we
will do it before the whole Court.
Enter Robin-Good-Fellow.
Ro.
What home-spun Fellows have we swagg'ring here,
So near the Grotto of the Fairy-Queen?
Qu.
Now every Man retire, and enter according to his Cue.
Prologue, stand ready, you begin.
Ro.
What, a Play toward? I'll be an Auditor;
An Actor too, perhaps, as I see cause.
Enter Prologue.
Pro.
If we offend, it is with our good Will
That you should think we come not to offend:
But with good will to shew our simple Skill,
That is the true beginning of our end.
Consider then we come but in despight;
We do not come as minding to content you.
-- 22 --
Our true intent is all for your delight:
We are not here that you should here repent you.
The Actors are at hand, and by their show,
You shall know all that you are like to know.
Bo.
He has rid his Prologue like a rough Colt, he knows no
stop: 'Tis not enough to speak, but to speak true.
Enter Wall.
Wall.
In this same Interlude it doth befal,
That I, Starveling (by name) present a Wall:
And such a Wall as I would have you think,
That had in it a crannied hole or chink.
Through which the Lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe,
Did whisper often very secretly.
This Loam, this Rough-cast, and this Stone doth show,
That I am that same Wall, the Truth is so;
And this the Cranny is, right and sinister,
Through which the fearful Lovers are to whisper.
Ro.
Who wou'd desire Lime and Hair to speak better? 'Tis
the wittiest Partition I ever saw.
Enter Pyramus.
Py.
O grim-look'd Night! a Night with hue so black!
O night! which ever art when day is not!
Oh night! oh night! alack! alack! alack!
I fear my Thisbe's Promise is forgot.
And thou, oh Wall; thou sweet and lovely Wall,
That stands between her Father's Ground and mine,
Shew me thy Chink to blink through with my eyn.
Thanks, courteous Wall, Jove shield thee well for this.
But what see I? no Thisbe do I see:
O wicked Wall, through whom I see no Bliss!
Curst be thy Stones for thus deceiving me.
Ro.
Methinks the Wall being sensible, shou'd curse again.
Bo.
No, but he shou'd not: Deceiving me is Thisbe's Cue.
Therefore hold your prating there.
-- 23 --
Enter Thisbe.
Th.
O Wall, full often hast thou heard my Moans;
For parting my fair Pyramus and me.
Py.
I hear a Voice; now will I to the Chink,
To spy if I can see my Thisbe's Face. Thisbe!
Th.
My Love thou art; my Love, I think.
Py.
Think what thou wilt, I am thy Lover's Grace;
And like Limander am I trusty still.
Th.
And I like Helen, till the Fates me kill.
Py.
Not Shafalus to Procrus was so true.
Th.
As Shafalus to Procrus, I to you.
Py.
O kiss me through the Hole of this vile Wall.
Th.
I kiss the Wall's Hole, not thy Lips at all.
Py.
Wilt thou at Ninny's Tomb meet me straightway?
Th.
Tide Life, tide Death; I come without delay.
[Exeunt Pyramus and Thisbe several ways.
Wall.
Thus have I Wall, my part discharged so,
And being done, thus Wall away does go.
[Ex. Wall.
Enter Lion and Moonshine.
Lyon.
You Ladies, you (whose gentle Hearts do fear
The smallest monstrous Mouse that creeps on Floor)
May now perchance both quake and tremble here.
When Lion rough in wildest Rage doth roar,
Then know that I one Snug the Joyner am;
No Lion fell, nor else no Lion's Dam.
For if I shou'd as Lion, come in strife
Into this place, 'twere pity of my Life.
Ro.
Upon my word, a very gentle Beast.
Moon.
This Lanthorn does the horned Moon present,
My self the Man i'th' Moon do seem to be.
Ro.
Make an end, good Moon-shine.
Moon.
All I have to say is to tell you, that the Lanthorn is
the Moon, I the Man in the Moon, this Thorn-bush my
Thorn-bush, and this Dog my Dog.
-- 24 --
Enter Thisbe.
Th.
This is old Ninny's Tomb; where is my Love?
Lion.
Oa, Oa, Oa.
[Exit Thisbe running, the Lion after her.
Ro.
Well roar'd Lion, and well run Thisbe too.
Enter Pyramus.
Py.
Sweet Moon, I thank thee for thy Sunny Beams:
I thank thee, Moon, for shining now so bright:
For by thy Gracious, Golden, Glittering Streams,
I trust to taste of truest Thisbe's sight.
But stay. O spight!
But mark; poor Knight!
What dreadful dole is here?
Eyes do not see,
How can it be?
O dainty Duck! O dear!
Thy Mantle slain? what stain'd with Blood?
Approach, you Furies fell:
O Fates! come, come.
Cut, thread, and thrum,
Quail, crush, conclude, and quell.
Ro.
If this wont move the Ladies, poor Pyramus will take
pains to little purpose.
Py.
O wherefore, Nature, did'st thou Lions frame?
Since Lion vile has here deflour'd my Dear.
Wich is—no, no, which was the fairest Dame
That liv'd, that lov'd, that lik'd, that look'd with chear,
Come Tears confound!
Out Sword, and wound
The Pap of Pyramus:
Ay, that left Pap,
Where Heart doth hop,
As Bird doth hop in Cage.
Thus die I, thus, thus, thus.
Now am I dead,
Now am I fled,
My Soul is in the Sky.
-- 25 --
Tongue lose thy light,
Eyes take your flight,
Now die, die, die, die.
Enter Thisbe.
Th.
Asleep, my Love?
What dead, my Dove?
O Pyramus arise!
Speak, speak! quite dumb?
Dead, dead! a Tomb
Must cover my sweet Eyes.
These Lilly-Lips, this Cherry-Nose,
These yellow Cowslip-Cheeks,
Are gone, are gone,
Lovers make moan,
His Eyes are green as Leeks.
Tongue not a word,
Come trusty Sword,
Come Blade, my Breast imbrue.
Now farewell Friends,
Thus Thisbe ends,
Adieu, adieu, adieu.
They all come in.
Snout.
Come, get up Pyramus and Thisbe, and let me speak
the Epilogue.
Ro.
No, no; I'll be the Epilogue.
Robin runs in amongst them.
Qu.
O monstrous! we are haunted!
Pray Masters; fly Masters.
All.
Help, help, help!
Exeunt, running several ways.
Ro.
I'll follow you;
I'll lead you such a round.
-- 26 --
Through Bog, through Bush, through Brake, through Brier;
Sometimes a Horse I'll be, sometimes a Hound;
A Hog, a headless Bear; sometimes a Fire.
And neigh, and grunt, and bark, and roar, and burn,
Like Horse, Hog, Hound, Bear, Fire, at every turn.
[Ex. Rob.
Enter Bottom, with an Ass's Head on.
Bot.
Why do they run away? This is a piece of Knavery
among 'em, to make me afraid.
Enter Snout.
Sn.
O Bottom! Thou art chang'd.
What's that I see on thee?
Bot.
What do you see?
You see an Ass-head of your own, that you see.
Enter Peter Quince.
Qu.
Bless thee, Bottom, bless thee! thou art translated.
[Exeunt Snout and Quince.
Bot.
I find their Knavery; they would fain make an Ass of
me, and fright me if they could. But I won't stir from this
place, do what they can. I will walk up and down here, and
I will sing, that they may hear I am not afraid.
SINGS.
The Woosel-Cock, so black of hue,
With Orange-tawny Bill;
The Thrustle, with his Note so true,
The Wren with little Quill.
Titania wakes.
Tit.
What Angel wakes me from my Flowry Bed?
-- 27 --
Bot.
The Finch, the Sparrow, and the Lark,
The One-tun'd Cuckow gray;
Whose Note most Married Men do mark;
And dare not answer, Nay.
For indeed, who wou'd set his wit to so foolish a Bird? who
wou'd give a Bird the lie, tho' he cry Cuckow never so often?
Tit.
I pray thee, lovely Mortal, sing again:
My Ear is much enamour'd with thy Note.
My Eye is fix'd on thy Majestick Shape.
Oh, how thy Graces charm me! I am forc'd,
At the first sight to say, to swear I love thee.
Bot.
Methinks, Mistress, you should have little Reason for that;
and yet to say Truth, Reason, and Love, keep little Company together
now a days; the more the pity, that some honest Neighbour
will not make 'em Friends. Nay I can break a Jest on occasion.
Tit.
Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful.
Bot.
Not so neither; but if I had Wit enough to get out of
this Wood, I have enough to serve my own turn.
Tit.
Out of this Wood never desire to go;
Here you shall stay whether you will or no.
I'll purge your grossness, you shall never die,
But like an airy Spirit, you shall fly.
Where are my Fairy Spirits?
Enter 4 Fairies.
1 Fa.
I am here.
2 Fa.
And I.
3 Fa.
And I.
4. Fa.
And I.
All.
What shall we do?
Tit.
Attend this Charming Youth.
Dance as he walks, and gambole in his Eye.
Feed him with Apricocks, and Dew-berries;
With purple Grapes, ripe Figs, and Mulberries.
The Hony-Bags steal from the Humble-bees.
For his Night-Tapers crop their waxen thighs,
And light 'em at the fiery Glow-worms Eyes.
And pluck the Wings from painted Butter-flies,
To fan the Moon-beams from his sleeping Eyes.
-- 28 --
Bow to him Elves, do Homage to my Love.
1 Fa.
Hail, Mortal, hail.
2 Fa.
Hail.
3 Fa.
Hail.
4 Fa.
Hail.
Tit.
Come, wait upon him, lead him to my Bower.
The Moon, methinks, looks with a watry Eye;
And when she weeps, then every little Flower
Laments for some lost Virgin's Chastity:
Tye up my Love's Tongue; bring him silently.
[Exeunt.
Enter Oberon.
Ob.
By this time my Titania should be wak'd;
I long to know what came first to her Eye.
Enter Robin-Good-Fellow.
Here comes my Messenger. Welcome, mad Spright:
What pranks have you been playing in the Grove?
Rob.
My Lady with a Monster is in love.
I led sweet Pyramus through the Fairy Pass,
And plac'd him just before the sleeping Queen;
She wak'd, and saw him, and straight lov'd the Ass,
His comly Visage, and his graceful Meen.
Ob.
'Tis as I wish'd (my Puck) but tell me now,
How fares the scornful Youth?
Rob.
That's finish'd too.
I found 'em sleeping on a Bed of Brakes;
I streak'd his eyes, he sees her when he wakes.
Demetrius and Hermia cross the Stage.
Ob.
Stand close, they come. Now hate her if you can.
Rob.
This is the Woman, but not that the Man.
Ob.
What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite,
And laid the Juice on the true Lover's sight.
Rob.
Then Fate o'er-rules; where one Man keeps his Troth,
A thousand fail, by breaking Oath on Oath.
Ob.
About the Wood, go swifter than the Wind.
You shall the poor despairing Helen find;
By some Illusion train, and bring her here,
I'll charm his Eyes. And when the Damsel's near,
-- 29 --
We'll wake Demetrius.
Rob.
I go, I go,
Swift as an Arrow from a Tartar's Bow.
[Ex. Rob.
Enter Titania, Bottom, and Fairies.
Tit.
Come, lovely Youth, sit on this flowry Bed,
While I thy amiable looks survey;
Garlands of Roses shall adorn thy Head,
A thousand Sweets shall melt themselves away,
To charm my Lover till the break of day.
Shall we have Musick sweet?
Bot.
Yes, if you please.
Tit.
Away, my Elves; prepare a Fairy Mask
To entertain my Love; and change this place
To my Enchanted Lake.
The Scene changes to a great Wood; a long row of large Trees
on each side: A River in the middle: Two rows of lesser
Trees of a different kind just on the side of the River, which
meet in the middle, and make so many Arches: Two great
Dragons make a Bridge over the River; their Bodies form two
Arches, through which two Swans are seen in the River at a great distance.
Enter a Troop of Fawns, Dryades and Naides.
A Song in two Parts.
If Love's a Sweet Passion, why does it torment?
If a Bitter, oh tell me whence comes my content?
Since I suffer with pleasure, why should I complain,
Or grieve at my Fate, when I know 'tis in vain?
Yet so pleasing the Pain is, so soft is the Dart,
That at once it both wounds me, and tickles my Heart.
-- 30 --
I press her Hand gently, look Languishing down,
And by Passionate Silence I make my Love known.
But oh! how I'm Blest when so kind she does prove,
By some willing mistake to discover her Love.
When in striving to hide, she reveals all her Flame,
And our Eyes tell each other, what neither dares Name.
While a Symphany's Playing, the two Swans come
Swimming on through the Arches to the bank of
the River, as if they would Land; there turn
themselves into Fairies, and Dance; at the same
time the Bridge vanishes, and the Trees that
were Arch'd, raise themselves upright.
Four Savages Enter, fright the Fairies away, and Dance an Entry.
Enter Coridon, and Mopsa.
Co.
Now the Maids and the Men are making of Hay,
We have left the dull Fools, and are stol'n away.
Then Mopsa no more
Be Coy as before,
But let us merrily, merrily Play,
And Kiss, and Kiss, the sweet time away.
Mo.
Why how now, Sir Clown, how came you so bold?
I'd have you to know I'm not made of that mold.
I tell you again,
Maids must Kiss no Men.
No, no; no, no; no Kissing at all;
-- 31 --
I'le not Kiss, till I Kiss you for good and all.
Co.
No, no.
Mo.
No, no.
Co.
Not Kiss you at all.
Mo.
Not Kiss, till you Kiss me for good and all.
Not Kiss, &c.
Co.
Should you give me a score,
'Twould not lessen the store,
Then bid me chearfully, chearfully Kiss,
And take, and take, my fill of your Bliss.
Mo.
I'le not trust you so far, I know you too well;
Should I give you an Inch, you'd take a whole Ell.
Then Lordlike you Rule,
And laugh at the Fool.
No, no, &c.
A Song by a Nymph.
When I have often heard young Maids complaining,
That when Men promise most they most deceive,
Then I thought none of them worthy my gaining;
And what they Swore, resolv'd ne're to believe.
But when so humbly he made his Addresses,
With Looks so soft, and with Language so kind,
I thought it Sin to refuse his Caresses;
Nature o'recame, and I soon chang'd my Mind.
Should he employ all his wit in deceiving,
Stretch his Invention, and artfully feign;
I find such Charms, such true Joy in believing,
I'll have the Pleasure, let him have the pain.
-- 32 --
If he proves Perjur'd, I shall not be Cheated,
He may deceive himself, but never me;
'Tis what I look for, and shan't be defeated,
For I'll be as false and inconstant as he.
A DANCE of Hay-Makers.
After the DANCE
Chorus.
A Thousand Thousand ways we'll find,
To Entertain the Hours;
No Two shall e're be known so kind,
No Life so Blest as ours.
Tit.
Now I will Feast the Pallate of my Love,
The Sea, the Air, the Earth I'll ransack for thee.
Name all that Art or Nature e're produc'd,
My Sprights shall fetch it instantly: O say
What will you have to Eat?
Bo.
A Peck of Provender, if your Honour please; I could
munch some good dry Oats very heartily; I have a great exposition
of Sleep upon me, would some of your Attendants
would shew me a necessary place for that same purpose.
Tit.
I'll lead thee to a Bank strew'd o'er with Violets,
With Jessamine, and cooling Orange Flowers,
There I will fold thee in my tender Arms,
As the sweet Woodbine, or the Female Ivy,
Circles the Barky Body of the Elm.
We'll Sport away the remnant of the Night,
And all the World shall envy my Delight.
[Exeunt.
-- 33 --
ACT. IV.
Enter Oberon and Robin-Good-Fellow.
Ob.
I squese this Flower of Purple die,
Hit with Cupid's Archery,
On the Apple of his Eye;
When the mournful Helen's nigh,
She shall shine as gloriously,
As yonder Venus in the Sky.
Thou shalt wake when she is by,
And beg her pardon for thy Cruelty.
Rob.
Lord of all the Fairy-Land,
All is done at thy Command;
Helena is here at hand,
And the Youth mistook by me,
Pleading for a Lover's Fee.
Shall we their fond Pageants see?
Lord, what Fools these Mortals be!
Ob.
Be careful, or the noise they make
Will cause Demetrius to awake.
Rob.
Then will two one Damsel court,
That must needs be pleasant sport.
I am always pleas'd to see
Things fall out prepostrously.
Enter Lysander and Helena:
Ly.
Why should think you that I would woo in scorn?
Scorn and Derision never come in Tears.
How can these watry Eyes seem Scorn to you?
Wearing Love's Livery to prove 'em true.
Hel.
You but advance your cunning more and more,
When truth kills truth, 'tis the Devil's holy War.
These Vows are Hermia's, they belong to her.
Ly.
I had no Judgment when to her I swore.
Hel.
And now much less, if now you give her o'er.
Ly.
Demetrius loves her, and loves not you.
-- 34 --
Demetrius wakes.
De.
Oh Helen! Goddess! Angel! all Divine!
To what shall I compare those charming Eyes?
The Stars are dim, Crystal is muddy too.
How ripe, how tempting ripe those Lips appear!
Those two Twin-Cherries kissing as they grow?
The purest Snow holds no comparison,
With that white lovely Breast. O let me kiss
That hand, that hoard of Sweets, that Seal of Bliss,
I am Love's Convert, Helena; I see,
And I repent my former Heresie.
Hel.
O! utmost spight! I see you all are bent,
All set against me for your merriment.
Can you not hate me? as I know you do;
Must you contrive, and joyn to mock me to?
If you are Men? as Men you are in show,
You wou'd not use a harmless Virgin so;
To vow, and swear, and over-praise each part,
When I am sure you hate me in your Heart.
You both are Rivals, both love Hermia,
And now both Rivals to mock Helena.
Enter Hermia.
Her.
Dark night that from the Eye distinction takes,
The Ear more quick of apprehension makes
'Twas my Ear guided me to find you out.
But why, Lisander, did you leave me so?
Ly.
Impertinent! Love summon'd me to go.
Her.
What Love could call Lysander from my side?
Ly.
The Love of Helena, whose brighter Eyes
Darken the Starry Jewels of the Night;
They take from her, not from the Sun their light.
Her.
You speak not as you think; it cannot be.
Hel.
Oh Heav'n! she's one of the Confederacy.
Injurious Hermia! ungrateful Maid!
Have you conspir'd to deride me too?
What though I am not beautiful as you,
-- 35 --
Though I am most unhappy in my Love?
You ought to pity, not despise me for't.
But fare you well; I know the fault's my own;
And either Death, or Absence, soon shall end it.
Ly.
Stay, lovely Maid; by Heav'n I swear to thee,
Thou art my Eyes, my Life, my Soul, fair Helen.
De.
I love thee more, much more than he can do.
Ly.
Words, words: let us withdraw, and prove it too.
De.
Follow me then.
Her.
Hold, hold, Lysander; to what tends all this?
Ly.
Away, you Ethiop.
De.
Ay, ay, seem to break loose.
Struggle as if you meant to follow me,
But come not. You may let the tame Man go.
Ly.
What can I do? would'st have me beat her from me?
No; though I hate her, yet I cannot harm her.
Her.
How can you do me greater harm than this?
Hate me? wherefore? ah me! my dearest Love!
Am not I Hermia? are not you Lysander?
Or am I alter'd since you saw me last?
This night you lov'd me, and this night you fly me.
Have you forsaken me? (oh Heav'n forbid)
Come tell me truly; do you hate me now?
Ly.
Ay, by my Life,
And wish I never may behold thee more.
Let this remove all doubt, for nothing's truer,
Than I hate thee, and love fair Helena.
Her.
O then 'tis you, you Jugler, Canker-blossom,
You Thief of Love, you who have come by Night,
And stoln Lysander's Heart.
Hel.
Indeed 'tis fine.
Have you no Modesty? no touch of Shame?
No Bashfulness? let not this Pigmie tear
Impatient answers from my milder Tongue.
Her.
Pigmie! why so? Ay, that way goes the Game.
Now I perceive she has made Comparisons
Between our Statures; she has urg'd her height,
Her Manly Presence, and tall Personage.
And are you grown so high in his Esteem,
Because I am so Dwarfish, and so low?
-- 36 --
How low am I? thou painted May-Pole, speak.
How low am I?
Ly.
Be not afraid, she shall not hurt thee, Sweet.
De.
No, Sir, she shall not, though you take her part.
Hel.
When she is angry, she's a very Shrew:
She was a Vixen when she went to School,
And though she is but little, she is fierce.
Her.
Little again? nothing but low and little?
'Tis you encourage her t'abuse me thus.
Let me come at her?
Ly.
Away, you Dwarf.
De.
You are too officious.
Ly.
Now she holds me not.
Now follow if thou dar'st; and let us try
Which of has most right to Helena.
De
Follow? nay I'll go with you; yes, before you.
[Ex. Ly. & De.
Her.
You Mistress; all this stir is about you.
Nay, go not back.
Hel.
I dare not trust you, Hermia.
Your hands I know, are quicker for a Fray;
My Legs are longer tho', to run away.
[Ex. Hel. running, and Her. after her.
Ob.
This is thy negligence; still thou mistak'st,
Or else committ'st thy Knaveries willingly.
Rob.
Believe me, King of Shadows, I mistook.
Did you not tell me I should know the Man,
By the Embroider'd Garment he had on?
If he had made to the right Woman court,
We had had no Divertisement, no Sport.
Ob.
Thou see'st these Lovers seek a place to fight;
Haste, Robin, haste; and overcast the Night.
These furious Rivals you must lead astray,
Be sure they come not in each others way.
Now like Lysander, now Demetrius,
Call here and there; mis-lead and tire 'em thus.
Till o'er their Eyes, Death's Counterfeit, sound Sleep,
With Leaden Legs, and Batty Wings shall creep.
Then crush this Herb into Lysander's Eye:
The Liquor has this virtuous property,
It will remove the Errors of this night,
And bring his Eye-Balls to their own true sight.
-- 37 --
When next they wake, all that has past shall seem
A meer Illusion, a Fairy Dream.
While I in this Affair do thee employ,
I'll to my Queen, and get her Indian Boy.
Then from the Charm I will her eye release,
Send home the Clown, and all shall be at peace.
Rob.
This must be done with speed, I must not stay,
For with her Dragons Wings Night flies away:
See yonder shines Aurora's Harbinger,
At whose approach, Ghosts wandring here and there;
Troop home to Churchyards, Damned Spirits all,
That in Cross-ways and Floods have Burial:
Already to their Wormy-Beds are gone,
For fear Bright Day their shames should look upon.
They wilfully Exile themselves from Light,
And must for ever wander in the Night.
Ob.
But we are Spirits of another sort;
Can any where, at any time resort.
I have more work for thee, make no delay,
We must effect this Business yet e're day.
[Ex. Ob.
Rob.
Up and down, up and down, I will lead 'em up and
down. I am fear'd in Field and Town; Goblin lead 'em up
and down, here comes one.
Enter Lysander.
Ly.
Where art thou, proud Demetrius? answer where?
Rob.
Here Villain; drawn, and ready, where art thou?
Ly
I shall be with you straight.
Rob.
Follow me then to evener ground.
[Leads Lysander out, and returns.
Enter Lysander. He leads him in.
Ly.
He goes before me, and still dares me on,
When I come where he calls me, he is gone.
'Tis very dark, the way uneven too;
I'm tyr'd with running, here I'll lay me down,
And wait with patience the approach of day,
Then if I meet him, we will end our Fray.
[Sleeps.
-- 38 --
Enter Robin, and Demetrius.
Rob.
Speak Coward, answer me; why com'st thou not?
De.
Stay Villain, if thou dar'st.
Thou run'st before me, shifting every place.
Stand, if thou art a Man, and meet me fairly.
Where art thou?
Rob.
I am here.
De.
I see thee not, answer me where?
Rob.
Here, here.
De.
Now thou derid'st me, thou shalt buy this dear,
When I thy Coward face by day-light see.
My faintness forces me to rest a while,
To measure out my length on this cold ground,
Thou wilt not with the breaking Day be found.
[Sleeps.
Enter Helena.
Hel.
Oh weary, tedious Night abate thy Hours;
Shine from the East that I may fly to Town,
From those who my poor Company detest.
And sleep that sometimes shuts up Sorrows Eye,
Steal me a while from my own Company.
[Sleeps.
Rob.
There's yet but three, come one more;
Two of both kinds make up four.
Here she comes pevish and sad.
Cupid is a Knavish Lad,
Thus to make poor Maidens mad.
Enter Hermia.
Her.
Never was Maid so weary, and so wrong'd,
Wet with cold Dew, and torn with cruel Briars.
I can scarce crawl, I can no farther go;
My Legs can keep no pace with my desires.
Here I will rest the remnant of the Night.
Heav'n guard Lysander, if they meet and fight.
[Sleeps.
-- 39 --
Enter Oberon.
Thou hast perform'd exactly each Command.
Titania too has given me the sweet Boy.
And now I have him, I will straight undo
The hated imperfection of her Eyes.
And gentle Puck, take thou the Asses Head,
From the transform'd Clown she doated on.
That he awaking when the others do,
May with his Fellows to their Homes repair.
And think no more of this Night's Accidents,
Than of the fierce vexation of a Dream,
But first, I will release the Fairy-Queen.
Be, as thou wert wont to be;
See, as thou wert wont to see.
Cinthia's Bud, and Cupid's Flow'r,
Has such force, and Blessed Pow'r.
Now my Titania, wake.
[She rises.
Tit.
My Oberon! What Visions have I seen?
Methought I was enamour'd of an Ass.
Ob.
There lies your Love.
Tit.
How came these things to pass?
How I detest that hateful Visage now!
Ob.
Robin, take from the Fool the Ass's head.
Rob.
Hark, thou King of Shadows, hark!
Sure I hear the morning Lark.
Ob.
Let him warble on, I'll stay,
And bless these Lover's Nuptial Day.
Sleep, happy Lovers, for some Moments, sleep.
Rob.
So, when thou wak'st with thy own Fools Eyes, peep.
[He takes off the Ass's Head.
Ob.
Titania, call for Musick.
Tit.
Let us have all Variety of Musick,
All that should welcome up the rising Sun.
-- 40 --
The Scene changes to a Garden of Fountains. A Sonata plays
while the Sun rises, it appears red through the Mist, as it
ascends it dissipates the Vapours, and is seen in its full
Lustre; then the Scene is perfectly discovered, the Fountains
enrich'd with gilding, and adorn'd with Statues: The
view is terminated by a Walk of Cypress Trees which lead
to a delightful Bower. Before the Trees stand rows of
Marble Columns, which support many Walks which rise by
Stairs to the top of the House; the Stairs are adorn'd
with Figures on Pedestals, and Rails and Balasters on each
side of 'em. Near the top, vast Quantities of Water break
out of the Hills, and fall in mighty Cascade's to the bottom
of the Scene, to feed the Fountains which are on each
side. In the middle of the Stage is a very large Fountain,
where the Water rises about twelve Foot.
Then the 4 Seasons enter, with their several Attendants.
One of the Attendants begin.
Now the Night is chac'd away,
All salute the rising Sun;
'Tis the happy, happy Day,
The Birth-Day of King Oberon.
Two others sing in Parts.
Let the Fifes, and the Clarions, and shrill Trumpets sound,
And the Arch of high Heav'n the Clangor resound.
A Machine appears, the Clouds break from before
it, and Phœbus appears in a Chariot
drawn by four Horses; and Sings.
-- 41 --
When a cruel long Winter has frozen the Earth,
And Nature Imprison'd seeks in vain to be free;
I dart forth my Beams, to give all things a Birth,
Making Spring for the Plants, every flower, and each Tree.
'Tis I who give Life, Warmth, and Being to all,
Even Love who rules all things in Earth, Air, and Sea;
Would languish, and fade, and to nothing woul fall,
The World to its Chaos would return, but for me.
Chorus.
Hail! Great Parent of us all,
Light and Comfort of the Earth;
Before thy Shrine the Seasons fall,
Thou who givest all Beings Birth.
Spring.
Thus the ever Grateful Spring,
Does her yearly Tribute bring;
All your Sweets before him lay,
Then round his Altar Sing, and Play.
Summer.
Here's the Summer, Sprightly, Gay,
Smiling, Wanton, Fresh, and Fair;
-- 42 --
Adorn'd with all the Flowers of May,
Whose various Sweets perfume the Air.
Autumn.
See my many Colour'd Fields,
And loaded Trees my Will obey;
All the Fruit that Autumn yields,
I offer to the God of Day.
Winter.
Now Winter comes Slowly, Pale, Meager, and Old,
First trembling with Age, and then quiv'ring with Cold;
Benum'd with hard Frosts, and with Snow cover'd o're,
Prays the SUN to Restore him, and Sings as before.
Chorus.
Hail Great Parent, &c.
A DANCE of the Four Seasons.
Ob.
Now my Puck this Herb apply
To the Mistaken Lover's Eye;
The powerful Juice will clear his Sight,
Make 'em Friends, and set all right.
Tit.
Come, my Lord, and tell me how?
How I sleeping here was found,
With these Mortals, on the Ground.
[Ex. All but Puck.
-- 43 --
Rob.
On the Ground, sleeping sound,
I apply to your eye, gentle Lover, Remedy.
When thou wak'st, then thou tak'st
True Delight in thy former Lady's sight;
And the Country Proverb known,
That every Man should take his own,
In your waking shall be shown.
Jack shall have Gill, nought shall go ill,
The Man shall have his Mare again, and all shall be well.
[Exit.
ACT V.
Enter Duke, Egeus, and Train.
Du.
Go one of you, find out the Forrester,
I long to hear the Musick of my Hounds,
They shall uncouple in the Western Vally.
Eg.
I mark'd it lately, 'twas a gallant chiding,
Beside the Groves, the Hills, and distant Vales,
The Skies, the Fountains, every Region near,
Seem'd all one mutual cry. I never heard
So Musical a discord; such sweet Thunder.
Du.
My Hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind;
So flew'd, so sanded; and their Heads are hung,
With Ears that sweep away the morning dew!
Crook-kneed, and Dew-lapt, like Thessalian Bulls,
Slow in pursuit, but match'd in Mouth like Bells,
Each under each; a cry more tunable,
Was never hollow'd too, nor cheer'd with Horn!
Judg when you hear. But soft, what Nymphs are these?
Eg.
My Leigh, this is my Daughter here asleep!
And this Lysander; this Demetrius!
This Helena, how came they here together?
Du.
No doubt,
They rose to grace our Solemn Hunting here.
But speak, Egeus, is not this the Day,
Hermia should give her answer?
-- 44 --
Eg.
It is my Leige.
Du.
Go bid the Huntsmen wake 'em with their Musick.
A Composition in imitation of Hunting, at the end of it a Shout, the Lovers wake.
Good morrow friends; Saint Vallentines is past,
How came these Wood-birds but to couple now?
Ly.
Pardon me, gracious Sir.
Du.
Stand up, Lysander.
I know you two are Rival Enemies,
How comes this noble Concord in the World?
That hatred is so far from Jealousie,
To sleep by hate?
Ly.
Sir I shall answer you amazedly,
I do not sleep, yet scarce am half awake,
I do not truly know how I came hither!
But as I think (for I would truly speak)
Yes, now I think I can remember it.
Hither I came with beauteous Hermia,
Our intent was to fly from hence, and so
Evade the danger of your Cruel Law.
Eg.
Enough (most Noble Duke) he owns enough:
I ask your Justice for this breach of Law.
They would have stol'n away; they would Demetrius.
They meant to have defeated you, and me;
You of your Wife, and me of my Consent.
De.
All this fair Helen told me, my good Lord;
And hither I in Fury follow'd 'em;
Hither, the too kind Helen follow'd me:
And here, by some strange pow'r (I know not how)
My Love to Hermia melted like the Snow:
And now she seems but as an idle Toy,
Which in my Infancy I doted on:
And all my Faith, the Vertue of my Heart,
Joy of my Life, and Pleasure of my Eye,
Is only Helena's. I was (my Lord)
Betroth'd to her, e're I saw Hermia:
But then, my sickly Palate loath'd its Food.
Now I'm in Health, come to my natural tast,
-- 45 --
And now I wish, I love, I long for it;
And will be ever true to Helena.
Du.
Then we came hither in a happy time:
Egeus, I must over-rule your Will;
For in the Temple, when our Hunting's done,
These Lovers shall eternally be joyn'd.
Egeus, I will be a Father too,
And give fair Helen to Demetrius,
Then feast these Lovers Royally: away.
[Ex. all but the Lovers.
Ly.
How have I dream'd, and thought I was awake?
And now I am awake, think I dream still.
Hel.
I never was so happy when awake:
Nay, pray disturb me not; let me dream on.
De.
These things seem strange, and undistinguishable,
Like Mountains far, far off, turn'd into Clouds.
Her.
Methinks I see 'em with a parted Eye,
Where every thing seems double.
Hel.
I think so too:
And I have found Demetrius like a Jewel
Long sought for, hardly credited when found.
De.
Pray Heaven we dream not still.
Did you not think the Duke himself was here?
Her.
Yes, and my Father.
Hel.
And bid us follow him.
Ly.
Ay, to the Temple.
Hel.
And said, he'd give me to Demetrius.
And feast us Royally.
Ly.
Nay then we are awake; let's follow him.
And as we go, let us recount our Dreams.
[Exeunt.
[A noise of Hunting at a distance, Bottom wakes.
Bot.
When my Cue comes, call me, and I will answer.
My next is—most fair Pyramus—hey, ho! Peter Quince,
Snout the Tinker, Starveling? 'Ods my life, stoln hence, and
left me asleep. I have had a most rare Vision. I had a
Dream, past the Wit of Man to say what Dream it was; Man
is but an Ass, if he go about to expound this Dream: Methought
I was! no Man can tell what. Methought I was,
and methought I had—but that Man is an arrant Fool, who
will offer to say what methought I had. I will get Peter
Quince to write a Ballad of this Dream; it shall be called Bottom's
-- 46 --
Dream, because it has no bottom; And I will sing it my
self, at the latter end of our Play, before the Duke.
Enter Quince, Flute, Snout, Starveling.
Qu.
I have sought far and near, and cannot find him.
St.
So have I. Out of doubt he is Translated.
Qu.
If we find him not, our Play is marr'd; it cannot be
done without him: He has simply the best Wit of any Handicraft
Man in the whole Town.
Qu.
Yes, and the best Person too: then he is a very Raven
for a sweet Voice.
Enter Snug.
Sn.
O Masters! the Duke's going to the Temple! the Lords
and the Ladies are to be Married this Morning. If our Play
had gone forward, we had been all made Men.
Snout.
Ah sweet Bully Bottom; thou hast lost God knows
what. An the Duke had not given him God knows what for
Playing Pyramus, I'll be hang'd.
Bot.
O are you here? my Lads, my hearts of Iron?
Qu.
He's here! he's here! Bottom's here! O most couragious
day! O happy day!
Bot.
Masters, I am to discourse wonders to you, but ask me
not what; for if I tell you, I am no true man. For I will tell
every thing as it fell out.
Qu.
Let us hear it then, sweet Bottom.
Bot.
Not a word, all I will tell you is, Get your Apparel together,
good strings to your Beards, new Ribbons, Powder, and
Wash, and meet presently at the Palace. Our Play shall be preferr'd.
Let Thisbe have clean Linnen, and let not him that
Plays the Lion, pare his Nails; they shall hang out for the Lion's
Claws. And let no man eat Onions, or Garlick, for we
must utter most sweet breath. No more words; but away.
[Exeunt.
Enter Duke, Egeus, Lovers, and Attendants.
Eg.
Are not these Stories strange, my Gracious Lord?
Du.
More strange than true. I never could believe,
These Antick Fables, nor these Fairy toys.
Lovers, and Lunaticks have pregnant brains.
They in a moment by strong fancy see
More than cool reason e're could comprehend.
-- 47 --
The Poet, with the mad-man may be joyn'd.
He's of imagination all made up,
And see's more Devils, than all Hell can hold.
Can make a Venus of an Ethiop.
And as imagination rolls about,
He gives the airy Fantasms of his Brain,
A Local habitation, and a name.
And so these Lovers, wandring in the night,
Through unfrequented ways, brim full of fear,
How easie is a Bush suppos'd a Bear!
[While a short Simphony Plays, Enter Oberon, Titania, Robin-Good-fellow, and all the Fayries.
I hear strange Musick warbling in the Air.
Ob.
'Tis Fairy Musick, sent by me;
To cure your Incredulity.
All was true the Lovers told,
You shall stranger things behold.
Mark the wonders shall appear,
While I feast your eye and ear.
Du.
Where am I? does my sence inform me right?
Or is my hearing better than my sight?
Tit.
When to Parlors we retire,
And Dance before a dying fire.
Ob.
Or when by night near Woods, or Streams,
We wanton by the Moons pale beams.
Then gross shades, and twinkling light,
Expose our Shapes to mortal sight.
But in the bright and open day,
When in Sol's Glorious beams we play,
Our bodies are, in that fierce light,
Too thin and pure for humane sight.
Tit.
Sir, then cast your eyes above:
See the Wife of mighty Jove.
Juno appears in a Machine drawn by Peacocks.
Ob.
Juno, who does still preside,
Over the Sacred Nuptial Bed:
Comes to bless their days and nights,
With all true joys, and chaste delights.
While a Symphony Plays, the Machine moves forward, and the Peacocks spread their Tails, and fill the middle of the Theater.
-- 48 --
JUNO Sings.
Thrice happy Lovers, may you be
For ever, ever free,
From that tormenting Devil, Jealousie.
From all that anxious Care and Strife.
That attends a married Life:
Be to one another true,
Kind to her as she to you.
And since the Errors of this Night are past,
May he be ever Constant, she be ever Chast.
The Machine ascends.
Ob.
Now my gentle Puck, away,
Haste, and over-cast the Day.
Let thick Darkness all around,
Cover that Spot of Fairy Ground;
That so the gloomy Shades of Night
May usher in a glorious Light.
While the Scene is darken'd, a single Entry is danced;
Then a Symphony is play'd; after that the Scene is
suddainly Illuminated, and discovers a transparent
Prospect of a Chinese Garden, the Architecture, the
Trees, the Plants, the Fruit, the Birds, the Beasts,
quite different from what we have in this part of
the World. It is terminated by an Arch, through
which is seen other Arches with close Arbors, and a
row of Trees to the end of the View. Over it is a
hanging Garden, which rises by several ascents to the
top of the House; it is bounded on either side with
-- 49 --
pleasant Bowers, variours Trees, and numbers of
strange Birds flying in the Air on the Top of a Platform
is a Fountain, throwing up Water, which
falls into a large Basin.
A Chinese Enters and Sings.
Thus the gloomy World
At first began to shine,
And from the Power Divine
A Glory round it hurl'd;
Which made it bright,
And gave it Birth in light.
Then were all Minds as pure,
As those Etherial Streams;
In Innocence secure,
Not Subject to Extreams.
There was no Room for empty Fame,
No cause for Pride, Ambition wanted aim.
A Chinese Woman Sings.
Thus Happy and Free,
Thus treated are we
With Nature's chiefest Delights.
Chorus.
Thus happy, &c.
We never cloy
But renew our Joy,
And one Bliss another Invites.
Chorus.
We never, &c.
-- 50 --
Thus wildly we live,
Thus freely we give,
What Heaven as freely bestows.
Chorus.
Thus wildly, &c.
We were not made
For Labour and Trade,
Which Fools on each other impose.
Chorus.
We were not &c.
A Chinese Man Sings.
Yes, Xansi, in your Looks I find
The Charms by which my Heart's betray'd;
Then let not your Disdain unbind
The Prisoner that your Eyes have made.
She that in Love makes least Defence,
Wounds ever with the surest Dart;
Beauty may captivate the Sence,
But Kindness only gains the Heart.
Six Monkeys come from between the Trees, and Dance.
Two Women Sing in Parts.
1 Wo.
Hark how all Things with one Sound rejoyce,
And the World seems to have one Voice.
2 Wo.
Hark how the Echoing Air a Triumph Sings,
And all around pleas'd Cupids clap their Wings.
1 Wo.
Sure the dull God of Marriage does not hear;
We'll rouse him with a Charm. Hymen appear!
Chorus.
Appear! Hymen appear!
Both.
Our Queen of Night commands you not to stay.
Chorus.
Our Queen, &c.
-- 51 --
Enter Hymen.
Hy.
See, see, I obey.
My Torch has long been out, I hate
On loose dissembled Vows to wait.
Where hardly Love out-lives the Wedding-Night,
False Flames, Love's Meteors, yield my Torch no Light.
Six Pedestals of China-work rise from under the Stage; they support six large Vases of Porcelain, in which are six China-Orange-trees.
Both Wo.
Turn then thy Eyes upon those Glories there,
And Catching Flames will on thy Torch appear.
Hy.
My Torch, indeed, will from such Brightness shine:
Love ne'er had yet such Altars, so divine.
The Pedestals move toward the Front of the Stage, and the Grand Dance begins of Twenty four Persons; then Hymen and the Two Women sing together.
They shall be as happy as they're fair;
Love shall fill all the Places of Care:
And every time the Sun shall display
His Rising Light,
It shall be to them a new Wedding-Day;
And when he sets, a new Nuptial-Night.
A Chinese Man and Woman dance.
The Grand Cho.
They shall be, &c.
All the Dancers join in it.
Ob.
At Dead of Night we'll to the Bride-bed come,
And sprinkle hallow'd Dew-drops round the Room.
Tit.
We'll drive the Fume about, about,
To keep all Noxious Spirits out:
That the Issue they create,
May be ever fortunate.
-- 52 --
Ob.
Stay; let us not, like very foolish Elves,
Take care of others, and neglect our selves.
If these should be offended, we are lost;
And all our Hopes, and future Fortunes cross'd.
Tit.
It is below the Fairy-Queen to fear.
Look there: Can there be any Danger near,
When Conquering Beauty sills that Heavenly Sphear
Ob.
But here are Wits, and Criticks and 'tis said,
Their Adders Tongues can sting, or hit us dead.
Tit.
Away: Let not the Name of Wits alarm us;
They are so very few, they cannot harm us.
Ob.
Consider; Sharpers, Beau's, the very Cits,
All either are, or else they would be Wits.
Tit.
Well, let 'em all be Wits; and if they shou'd
Blast us, or nip us in the very Bud,
The Loss will be their own another Day.
Are we not in a very hopeful Way
To make 'em all amends—if they will stay.
Ob.
They are impatient, and their Stomachs keen;
They will not be post-pon'd, 'tis you're Fifteen.
Tit.
Well, If their Appetites so fiercely crave,
We'll give 'em all the Ready that we have.
First, Losing Gamesters, Poets, Railing Wits;
Some Basset-Ladies, and all Broken Cits;
(Who live by what from others they purloyn)
We'll lend 'em mighty Sums—in Fairy-Coin.
Ob.
Ladies in Dreams shall have their Fortunes told;
The Young shall dream of Husbands, and the Old
Their Youthful Pleasures shall each Night repeat.
Tit.
Green-Sickness Girls, who nautiate wholesom Meat,
How they their Parents, and themselves may cheat.
Ob.
Widows, who were by former Husbands vex'd,
Shall dream how they may over-reach the next.
Tit.
Each separate Lady, to supply her Want,
Shall every Night dream of a new Gallant.
Ob.
Those Beau's, who were, at Nurse, chang'd by my Elves.
Tit.
Shall dream of nothing, but their pretty selves.
Ob.
We'll try a Thousand charming Ways to win ye.
Tit.
If all this will not do, the Devil's in ye.
